The Nordic countries rule, in a key way

The sheer size of the child penalty in labor markets (worldwide) makes it so important. Here's a new study digging deeper. @jonasjessen.bsky.social @kinnelavinia.bsky.social

A top conference series

1/Universities need to systematically address the findings in the Epstein files. In my opinion, every university in which current or past faculty, administrators, trustees appear in the files, should establish formal bodies to review and assess. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...

It’s been a year since this post. Life is…so different now. Yet, I’m sitting here on my living room floor, with my cold coffee, in the same robe, playing with my beautiful son. Just like I was when I wrote this. @standupforscience.bsky.social started with a skeet and an idea.

$500 million bribe to a head of state who puts his country in crisis. Lesson to 🇪🇺, don‘t allow it here, not a single €.

Batteries give flexibility - also to the demand side

300 warm help boxes for 🇺🇦 (donation page in English, and supported by @efdavies.bsky.social)

‚“My project is about bears and ‘black’ is a trigger word,” they wrote. “Insane.”‘

EU tech law EU Commission preliminary finding that TikTok has breached Digital Services Act re 'addictive design' ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

So true 👇🏻 that corruption makes you weak

Funny thing, corruption. It shows one’s weakness of mind and makes the mind even weaker.

Game theory is so naive. It says 🇪🇺 should become independent of fossile fuel imports.

How do adults react to data on educational inequality? We show that data on the wealth gap in German schools causes people to agree that circumstances impact educational success and increases private donations. Yet, it doesn't change support for government spending.

📢 Call for papers: 1st Annual CEP–IFS Labour Conference London | 15–16 June 2026 We invite labour economics papers on wages & inequality, firm wage-setting, monopsony, unions, worker mobility & place-based policies. Submit by 13 Feb 2026. 🔗 Details & submissions: ow.ly/yvGJ50XY3fK

Correcting a grammatical error by wrecking the building it’s written on Gift article: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/u...

Just to reiterate: loads of academics have fully successful careers without ever having to suck up to pedophiles (or Nazis, or whatever) for money. I want to push back on the defeatest attitude that says this obsequiousness is required, because that's the surest way to make it *become* required.

100% true

The Epstein discussion is a reminder that all people, including scholars, are corruptible. The challenge is to be it as little as possible, and to create disincentives for it via strong responses, laws, and standards.

Might now be a convenient time to build 🇪🇺 tech and military, large scale? Over Creamy Chicken, Europe’s Leaders Try to Reduce Dependence on Trump www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/w...

Perhaps also a moment of opportunity for Friedrich Merz to shine

For absolutely no reason, let me remind people of this banger of a paper by @caroartc.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.jp...

What could go wrong Gift article: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/t...

Science and public health action

Disastrous month of January, in terms of Europe’s trust in the US. Much damage is here to stay. Just a hunch, the best chance for a significant repair would be strong 🇺🇸 support for 🇺🇦.

I don't think many people of these countries will visit the world cup, tourist destinations or conferences anymore if they have to provide 5 years of social media, 10 years of email and DNA to the Trump creeps. Why does Trump want to isolate the US this way? www.cbsnews.com/news/us-tour...

Soccer and history

Tja www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/w...

More innovation in Germany (in German)

Support set for one household, 80€ or other support via this 🇩🇪 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 language page (and IBAN see 👇🏼) www.we-aid.org/en/project-d...

3rd EER Summer School in Experimental and Behavioral Economics, June 1–4, 2026 ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics and Management A great opportunity for those interested in behavioral and experimental economics. 🔗 Learn more here: www.eersummerschool.org ⏳ Deadline: 31 January 2026 #EconResearch

Does religious education in school create life-long believers? We exploit staggered German state reforms to show that abolishing compulsory religious education significantly reduced students' religiosity as adults and led to higher labor-market participation and earnings.

India has reportedly reached a new trade deal with the EU and will cut tariffs on cars from 110% to 40%, with tariffs eventually falling to 10%.

Many discussions about 🇪🇺 tech sovereignty. 👇🏻 A fascinating aspect, sometimes overlooked, is the public's behavioral reaction to MAGA: e.g., how many people and institutions will drop PayPal and use Wero? (A coordination problem where every user attracts others.) werotracker.eu

NEW: India is avoiding the fossil fuel detour 🪝 Where China built first on coal and gas, India is taking a shortcut >>> read in 5 graphics🧵

👇🏼 with a very German, yet beautiful, expression: „Für Kurzentschlossene“ The application deadline was yesterday but surely my colleagues allow a weekend application. („For people who decide swiftly (to make a change)“)

Sophistication wins windinsider.com/2026/01/21/g...

Appeal for more short-run support for 🇺🇦

„He suggested that Chinese manufacturers were laughing while selling their wind turbines to European buyers. “They sell them to stupid people,” Mr. Trump said.“ Gift article. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/b...

🇪🇺 never cancels grants

„I'm sitting in my apartment. It's warm. I have electricity. I have light. I'm doing well. The situation in 🇺🇦 Ukraine is very different.“ Thank you so much, Christian @christianeymery.bsky.social, for your actions, and the fundraising appeal! 💙🙏💛 #warmthforukraine

Well done

People's attitudes towards policy - a big modern research area Please submit your best paper and join us for this workshop in beautiful Bavaria #Econsky

The art of focusing in all the noise

The future is long, and the 🇺🇸 elites are strong and smart. Is there agreement among them that this nonsense will, in fact, be reverted? Would be good to know.

US consumers bore 96% of the cost of the 2025 Trump tariffs. Impeccable timing for this paper by @julianhi.nz and colleagues at @kiel.institute. www.kielinstitut.de/de/publikati...

Hush, little student, don't say a word

How does competitive pressure fail to protect buyers in information markets? Our new model of "portfolio competition" shows that when signals are complements, sellers leverage the buyer's desire for the joint portfolio to extract the full social surplus.

“The European leaders will come around,” Mr. Bessent said. Gift article: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/w...

It’s unusually cold in Kyiv and Russia has wrecked Ukraine’s energy supply. The situation is seriously dire. @lapatina.bsky.social and @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org have set up a fundraiser for portable batteries for Kyiv. Please consider this if you can.